Michael Moynihan
Ceist:242. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if biomass will form part of future Government energy policy. [8536/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThursday, 26 February 2015
Ceisteanna (242)
Freagraí scríofa
In 2013, 7.8% of Ireland’s overall energy requirements were met from renewable sources, with energy from biomass accounting for 3.2%. Energy from biomass is expected to contribute up to half of the 2020 renewable energy targets, both here and in the EU as a whole. I published a Draft Bioenergy Plan in October 2014 which will undergo Strategic Environmental and Appropriate Assessments to inform the content of the finalised Plan. These assessment processes will commence shortly. The draft Plan sets out the broader context for the development of Ireland’s biomass sector, and the current status with regard to the range of policy areas that must be coordinated in order to create the conditions necessary to support the development of this sector.
The draft Plan recommends the continuation of the REFIT schemes and the Biofuels Obligation Scheme, which currently support energy from biomass. Furthermore, the analysis underpinning the draft Plan is that an additional bioenergy focused measure in the heat sector represents the most cost effective means of meeting a number of different policy goals. Therefore, the plan also recommends the introduction of a Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) for larger heat users to change to heating solutions that produce heat from renewable sources. The RHI scheme, once designed, will require State Aid approval from the European Commission and further Government approval. It is proposed to have the scheme in place next year.
The draft Plan also contains measures to stimulate and support the supply of Irish biomass. In this regard, the key recommendations include: the continued support for the Afforestation Programme; the continuation of the Bioenergy Scheme for energy crops; and the establishment of Bioenergy Ireland, a joint venture between Bord na Móna and Coillte.
Furthermore, in terms of developing new sources of biomass, the draft Plan provides that the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government would endeavour to optimise the availability of waste for energy and that the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine would continue its support for innovative energy uses for animal by-products.